Tuesday, July 01, 2008

The appliques are on the chairs and I painted the back of the hutch blue!!! (you can click on the photos to enlarge) I was really busy last weekend! The hutch had been painted white but I never did the rest of my steps with it (sanding, distressing, glazing and waxing) until last weekend. It looks so much better now that it's not stark white! I painted the back with Behr paint, the color is called Sonata. It was way too bright blue so I mixed some brown paint and water and washed it over the blue (once it had dried) and wiped it off. I love it now! I'm now adding some appliques over the glass area of the hutch. I should have this project all finished by this weekend! It's all coming together now...I can't believe the difference the new table made! It dressed up the whole living/dining area! I also got all the chairs covered with the new fabric but I forgot to take pictures of that!You know what I love about all this? Everything in this photo either came from craigslist, thrift stores, flea markets, eBay, garage sales, Marshalls or was given to me by friends and family or made by my dad. The only exception is the sofa came from Macy's. Who says you need to pay full retail price at high-priced department stores to have nice things? You really don't!!! I think the secret to having a lot of white is to also have a lot of texture. I love all the textures in the dining room; the lace, the shells and the appliques & the cane back on the chairs. You really see it more in person that in the photos.

I hate my navy blue sofa. When I bought it three or four years ago I was going to change my decor to a nautical Nantucket-type casual look. You know...sailboats, oars, and red and blue. Sort of that Ralph Lauren Red, White and Blue look. That is so not me but for about 2 months that's what a wanted and that just happened to be when I bought my sofa! I can't afford to buy a new one now so for a change I just threw a white bedspread over it. I also changed the plates that I have on each side of the mirror above the couch. I had blue and white transferware but I'm slowly starting to go to a lighter, softer palette of blue in my apartment. It's amazing how just changing the plates and putting a cover over the sofa softened the look so much!I put this little nest in this little glass house.

75 comments:

Cindy, I love the table. You've done an amazing job of decorating with all of your low-cost finds. Everything is beautiful. You're living proof that one doesn't have to spend tons of money and at big expensive stores to have a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Hi Cindy! You have done a magnificent job with your new table and hutch! I LOVE IT!! I also think your blue couch would be pretty for a changeits nice that you could have an option if you wanted. Can't wait for your post on the button wreath, Im gathering all my buttons so I can be ready to go!!

What can else can I say-just love everything you have done with your place. I look forward to reading your blog everyday. You always have something beautiful to show us! Thanks for making a " bright spot" in my day. Chris H.

Cindy, your place looks amazing adnI love the new tabls and chairs! You have been so busy! I love how everything is budgeted. I do the same thing and poeple don't realize what is out there to be had! Thanks for being such an inspiration! Jen R

What can I say Cindy?.... Your home is so charming and I LOVE how you've used the white bedspread over your sofa! The table and chairs and hutch look so elegant too. I always look forward to seeing what you're doing next! Blessings!! Suesue

Hi Cindy! I love love your dining/living area. So pretty it looks like it could be on Nantucket! I know what you mean about sofa purchase; I thought I wanted contemporary and purchased an eggplant large style mostly because of the pillow print!lol Now I can't stand it and am thinking of upholstering it myself? I tried this a couple times before so I am not just jumping in like I usually do. Anyway I again LOVE what you've been up to! You favorite fan, Jeannette

Oh Cindy your home is just magnificent....I just LOVE everything about it... I gaze at every corner....I have started to Tivo "Rate My Space" so I won't miss you on TV.... it is really a neat show... but I can't wait to see you on it....HUgsLinda

Cindy, I LOVE your home! You truly are a talented lady. You have the ability to express yourself through your furnishings, vignettes, etc and it's obvious that you're a 'nester'. I am too, and right now I'm working on turning a 1959 typical FL ranch-style house into a romantic cottage, and I too am using my things that I got at flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops, TJMaxx, etc. to accomplish this. I've used your re-finishing directions on some of my furniture & everything has turned out great. Thanks for a fantastic blog & I would LOVE to meet you & tag along on one of your shopping excursions!I don't have a blog, so have to sign myself 'anonymous'. ha Sue in Sarasota

Cindy, it is simply AMAZING! I just could not believe it as I enlarged those photos. I oohed and aahed and tried to take in every little thing. It is so gorgeous! And the view of your garden from that mirror! It's unbelievable that you did all that on a budget. Unbelievable! I have a degree in Professional Writing and I am, for once in my life, at a total loss for words to describe what your makeover is. You seriously need to be doing this professionally.xoxo, Brenda

Cindy, I am in awe of all the work you do and still hold aday job! I only work part time yet, I hardly have the energy to craft. I love the white, I would do that to my home, but in my living/dining room I chose to go burgundy,green,and ivory. I have very dark vintage wood tables and a buffet, so I do not want to paint them. However, my bathroom is white and ivory, and I love it. You are such an inspiration for those of us who have a cash flow problem. I totally enjoy your blog. It is by far one of my favorites. I am slways checking everyday to see whats new!

You have definately made your apartment into a HOME! So beautiful...so peaceful...so welcoming! Thank you for sharing your vision of how to accomplish these things with us. I love the lighter version of things as well and starting to change slowly...although still living with three sons and a husband and a large american bulldog makes it difficult sometimes...thanks again.

Everything looks great, Cindy! The chairs looks fantastic with the appliques ... and the hutch looks beautiful with the blue paint inside to show off your dishes! Like you, I love covering up my old wing chairs and sofas with throws, spreads, or (ill-fitting, unfortunately) slipcovers! LOL I loved my living room set when I got it back in the early 90's - blue Sturbridge plaid. But as we know, times - and our decorating styles -change over the years!...Donna

Just love it Cindy. Your whole home is so very inviting. Thrift decorating is so much fun. There is certainly much more interest in a room filled with "loved items". You have a talent for picking just the perfect pieces. (And what aren't perfect when you buy them-are perfect when you are done recreating them.) Beautiful work!

Absolutely gorgeous!!! What a transformation for all of these pieces, Cindy! The appliques add such a pretty feminine touch to me and the blue backdrop of your hutch really shows off it's treasures!! I love the look of the sofa draped in the spread, it has a romantic feel to me. Everything is lovely, it is so very YOU!! Thanks for sharing all the great pictures, I'm sure the chair seats look so perfect with everything, I loved the fabric you chose. You can find transferware in those soft pale shades of blue but they can be pricey! Just beautiful, xxoo, Dawn

I have a couple questions for you: Suppose you won the lottery. Not filthy rich mega-millions but enough that you could quit work, buy yourself a comfortable, cozy home and furnish it any way you wanted. Do you think you would stay with this romantic cottage style or would you change your decorating style (a little or completely)? Would you continue to thrift and refurbish items to decorate your new home or would you give up thrifting and DIY projects to buy new furniture and accessories only from high dollar retail stores?

I've asked myself these same questions and honestly, I'm having trouble coming up with a concrete answer. But I guess I won't have to worry about it since I'm not lucky enough to win the lottery! :D

I wandered over here from a link on Cynthia's blog. I really like your dining room. It inspires me to do something similar with my outdated wood dining room furniture. Perhaps I'll start with the table and chairs.

Very, very nice color choices. Thanks for showing your lovely home and wonderful ideas. I will be back often to see what you've changed or added.Marnie

Everything looks beautiful! I love the way the back of the hutch came out. I would never have thought to do that.It does show off your treasures so nicely. The appliques on the chairs are the perfect accent. I also love the bedspread on the sofa. It does soften the look of everything. Looking forward to the button project too.

You are incredibly talented. And I agree, you CAN have a nice home on a budget. My entire home consists of flea market finds. By the way, I think I am going to copy your mirrored staircase, hope you don't mind. It was such a wonderful idea, since I have a lot of mirrors and I can't seem to stop buying them! ;-)

Cindy, Everything is so wonderful and creative. Doesn't it make you feel good to reuse something and not spend a fortune on it. The seashells in the three level holder really adds a nice touch to the room. Way to go, girl. Jean

For such a small apt you always have such great things to show us. I took a look back from when you first started to decorate your apt and it's so fun to see the difference. Maybe you should do a post and show the difference.

I always find something new when I look at your photos.

I've never noticed the 1/2 bird cage hanging by your couch. Is that new or has it always been there?

Where did you find that? Does it have shelfs in it? It's so cute.

Love the way you made your table look just like the real shabby chic ones. Great job kiddo!

I like that. I was hoping you would have done that with your armoire. I am like you. Nearly everything in my house with the exception of my couch and chair was either was a find at thrift, antique, shop or given to me or inherited I like the older things more than the newer.

My sweet romantic, I did something similar with my lamps you have in your living room last week. Your chairs turned out exquisite and now I'm looking for some similar to do! What an inspiration you are, sweetpea!! Very talented chickee! Love it all,Smoochies,Connie

Cindy, I just love everything you've done. The table and chairs are beautiful and you're so right, the blue in the back of your china cabinet just makes it sing! Oh, you have some lovelies in that china cabinet I could take off your hands if you ever get tired of them. The spread on the sofa looks awesome. I thot you had a new one! love all the beautiful chinzware in that cabinet, too. Oh, I see my teapot! and you have all the other pieces to it! I've seen this teapot all over Blogland! I have a very similar tray table like yours, too! I love the reflection in the mirror showing your patio. Aw...your home is so lovely. I think a home is so much more personal and tells a better story if the owner is creative like you, and me a little lol! You definatley have such vision and it truly shows. Loverly!Be a sweetie,Shelia ;)

HI Cindy,It looks beautiful and the couch cover really looks like it lightened your room up. You had asked about the apliques on my cabinets. I think your talking about the app. on my red cabinet?? If you are, I hand painted those by placing a little dish I have, I placed it face down on the door and traced around it and then just painted it in. Very easy, I handpainted a vine around the edges of it, but it was very simple.Hugs~Kelly

Oh, it's all beautiful, Cindy. I totally agree with you on not having to spend a fortune on things. My house is testament to that too. I loved these room shots of everything together & that table was a real find.

As always love the posts! It's amazing that bargains are everywhere just waiting to be found and that you don't have to spend a lot to have a lovely home; you are proof of that. My favorites are Home Goods, local antique shops and thrift stores, and of course discount stores like Marshall's. I'm excited to see what great finds you bring home next! Thanks!

Cindy, you are such a HARD worker, and soooooo creative. I can't wait for the day when it all comes together and you are rewarded with a much deserved career of some sort that utilizes your awesome talent!ksarra

Your chandelier is beautiful! Your blog, with it's photos about your home and garden decorating techniques, inspires me. With your permission I've added a link to your blog from mine. I just started blogging in June 08...and I found your wonderful blog by chance. Glad I did. -Sunny Bower

Cindy~Your home becomes more beautiful,warm and inviting with each post. The table and chairs are just the "icing on the cake". I wasn't sure if you were going to use the appliques on the front or the back but I really like them on the front. They are the finishing touch. Love the coverlet on your sofa, too. I am planning on borrowing that idea!! Any chance you'll come and do some decorating consulting at my home?!!

Wow Cindy!!Even though I visit your blog every day, I am still pleasantly surprised even by the small changes you make. Just when I think it can't be improved anymore, you find a way to make it even more special. The splashes of blue and the white cover on your couch look so pretty.

Take Care,Karin (I don't have a blog)

PS Could you tell us a little more about some of the things you learned in your book "The Fine Art of Accessorizing"?

Cindy,Every thing is really lovely. You have so much energy and creativity and your home reflects you and your gifts perfectly.I so agree with what you said about not needing a lot of money to have a nice home. People always used to assume that I had much more than I did, which was never my goal, but like you I would comb junk shops, garage sales, street corners and alleys for things that I could make do with. Seems to me that people that learn to make do often come up with the best product. I think its is about thinking that the cup is half full instead of wasting time worrying about not having enough.Your work is amazing.Hugs,Sue

Hi Cindy,Your home is a breath of fresh air. I know what you mean about the Ralph Lauren look, I was going to go the Pottery Barn urban chic look, so not me. I always end up going back to my romantic vintage cottage style. Everything looks beautiful.

Cindy - everything is just beautiful. I cannot get over what you accomplish! I look around and think - what the heck is my problem? It is so much fun to look at everything you do and how well you place things. You must get such a good feeling when you look around at all you've done. I do hope you take some time to rest in the beautiful home you created. How relaxing that would be!!!

All of it is absolutely beautiful Cindy! I LOVE the back of your hutch painted blue. It's so pretty and helps the dishes stand out more. If I didn't have 3 boys in this house, I'd love to have a more feminine home! I know I could, but I'd be fussing all the time about things getting dirty. They love working in the shop and hubby is a landscaper so that all equals DIRT in a big way! So I'm living vicariously through your blog.

I adore how you do it all on a dime, too! I think just the hunt for treasures to make beautiful can be half the fun, at least for me.

Your couch looks great with a throw over it. Since it's a good quality couch, maybe sometime you could save to have a slipcover made for it or you could make one since you're quite handy at those things. I wish I could afford or sew slipcovers for ours. They're a beautiful brown leather and curvy with bun feet, but totally not me. We'd moved to AZ and I thought I'd go for the Tuscan look that's so popular there - but so not me! And alas we moved back to WA. Oh well! Thanks for all the lovely pics and inspiration!

I love the appliques!!! Everything looks so nice as always. An idea for your couch is to get some slipcovers so you change things out as the mood hits you. I can't wait to see your bathroom after your wallpaper it.

The table and chairs look amazing! So beautiful. I love the hutch, too. But the best part is the fact that most of it is thrifted or repurposed. You should have a show on HGTV about "green" decorating!xoxo,Mary

OH CINDY,I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU...OR WITH WHAT YOU DO.HA.EVERYTHING YOU DO IS SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL.I'VE NEVER LEFT A MASSAGE,BUT I VISIT YOU ALL THE TIME.OOPS,I DO SOUND LIKE A STALKER DON'T I?NO-I VISIT FOR IDEAS,ENCOURAGEMENT,AND INSPIRATION.I AM SWITCHING OVER TO SHABBY-CHIC FROM WELL"NORMAL".WHATEVER THAT IS.HA.I FINALLY GOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO PAINT ALMOST EVERYTHING WHITE. I ESPECIALLY LOVE----YOUR BED.I HUNT ON CRAIGS LIST EVERYDAY.I HAVE ANICE BED,BUT I'M LOOKING FOR A BUFFET AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS.IT'S ALOT OF WORK,BUT IT IS JUST SOOOOO PRETTY AND SOOO RELAXING. THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING HERE....ANN[ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST FANS]

I know I'm the the 73rd person to comment on this old post, but....I loooove everything, Cindy! Your coffee table really jumped out at me, it's GORG! (that's my term for gorgeous) I also love your oak "hutch" or cabinet. Don't change the color of this ever, I just loove the contrast.

I know this post is really supposed to be about your new table & chairs, but you already know those are wonderful. I bet if you had a contest for someone to come spend the afternoon in your home, people really would enter!! haha, that idea probably scares you! lol....